Wall closure unit



Jan. 27, 1970 J.W. CARUTH WALL CLOSURE UNIT Filed Nov. 20, 1967 INVENTOR JUAN/TA W. CARUTH ATTORNEY U.S. Cl. 49-463 3,491,486 WALL CLOSURE UNIT Juanita W. Caruth, 2016 Richardson St.,

Dallas, Tex. 75215 Filed Nov. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 684,372 Int. Cl. E0413 19/08; E06b /00, 1/56 4 Claims 1 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A closure unit adapted to be affixed to a wall structure to permit access through an opening in the wall. The unit includes a removable panel to the posterior surface of which is affixed at least one bracket having a lip which W111 engage a corresponding protruding surface on another bracket affixed to the wall structure when the panel is placed over the opening in the wall.

This invention relates to wall closure units, and more particularly, to a wall closure unit having an access panel which may be removed to permit access to the interior of the wall.

Water and electrical conduits that .run through wall structures on occasion require service and repair, commonly at drain traps and at electrical or plumbing connections. Often these conduits must be approached from the roof or from under the floor as there is no access panel in the wall. When such panels are provided, they take the form of slideways installed where they can be hidden from open view, such as in closets and other inconvenient locations. Such doors or slideways have been unsatisfactory in terms of tightness and accessibility, tending to permit entry of pests and the like.

It is the object of this invention to provide a compact and decorative wall closure unit which may be secured to a wall structure and which includes a panel easily removable to permit access to conduits and the like which require occasional repair and service.

The present invention can be generally described as a wall closure unit adapted to be afiixed to a wall structure to permit access through an opening in the wall. The unit includes a panel having a configuration suitable for covering the opening in the wall. A first bracket is attached to and extends from the posterior surface of the panel and is provided with a lip which cooperates with a protruding surface on a second bracket attached to the wall structure for retaining the panel across the opening in the wall.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further objects and advantages thereof, reference may now be had to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a wall structure to which one embodiment of the invention has been aflixed;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a partial cross sectional view of coacting elements of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of yet another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic elevational view of a wall structure to illustrate areas where embodiments of the present invention may be used; and

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view of yetanother embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, a closure unit which permits access to the interior of wall 10 is indicated gen- 3,491,486 Patented Jan. 27, 1970 erally by reference numeral 14. The unit 14 is comprised of a frame assembly 15 set in opening 16 of wall 10 and adapted to receive a panel unit 26. Wall 10 contains conventional plumbing which may serve, for example, bathtub 27.

To describe one embodiment of the invention in more detail reference is made to FIGURE 2. In FIGURE 2, frame assembly 15 includes parallel side elements 17 and 18 which are secured to corners of wall studs 12 and 13, respectively, by suitable fastening means such as wood screws 19. Parallel brackets 20 and 21 span the gap between the side elements 17 and 18 and are attached thereto by weldments at ears 22. The structural integrity of frame 15 is also strengthened by right angle tabs 23, only one of which is illustrated, attached to each corner of frame 15. The tab 23 illustrated in FIGURE 2. has one leg secured to side element 17 and the other leg secured to bracket 20 by weldments or the like.

As illustrated in FIGURE 2, bracket 20 has legs 20a and 20b which form a right angle and bracket 21 similarly has legs 21a and 21b which form a right angle. Both legs 20b and 21b are embossed to produce lips 20c and 210. Protruding portions 200 and 210 project into the window defined by frame assembly 15, and are maintained relatively inflexible with regard to the inner periphery of said window by reason of the rigidity imposed by tabs 23.

The panel unit 26 which is adapted to mate with the frame 15 is shown displaced from frame assembly 15 in FIGURE 2, as in FIGURE 1. The panel 24 has attached to the posterior surface thereof parallel top and bottom brackets 25 and 31. Brackets 25 and 31 are attached by tack-Welding the corresponding legs 25a and 31a thereof to the panel 24. Inwardly extending legs 25b and 31b, which define a gap therebetween slightly smaller than the gap defined between the protruding portions 200 and 210 of frame assembly 15, have lips or convex bend portions 250 and 310 formed along the length thereof which will mate with portions 200 and 21c of frame 15, as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

When panel unit 26 is moved inwardly to cover opening 16, lips 25c and 310 will pass over portions 200 and 210, respectively, and nest therebehind to retain the panel 24 over opening 16.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URE 4 differs from the embodiment illustrated in FIG- URES 2 and 3 only in that brackets 25 and 31 are provided with lips 25d and 31d which are directed inwardly rather than outwardly and register with the protruding portions 20c and 216 in an overlapping fashion.

In FIGURE 5, frame assembly 15 is set in Wall 11 in front of gooseneck trap 29 of drain pipe 30, which could be used in connection with a water appliance 33 (shown in shadow) which may be a washing machine or dishwasher serviced by faucets 34. In such installations, panel 26 is secured in frame 15 to cover the window defined by frame 15 be aligning panel 24 with the opening defined by frame 15 and pressing inwardly along an axis perpendicular to the plane of the wall 11. The spring bias of the panel flanges 25 and 31 will cause the lips 25c and 310 or 25d and 31d, depending upon the embodiment used, to engage the protruding portions 200 and 210 of frame 15.

While the embodiments illustrated in FIGURES Z4 both employ two brackets attached to the panel 24 which are adapted to cooperate with similar brackets forming a part of frame 15, the brackets need not be straight and parallel. For example, FIGURE 6 illustrates a first circular bracket 35 which may be affixed to an access panel 24 and which is provided with a lip 35c. Bracket 35 is adapted to cooperate with a circular bracket 36 of slightly registers with lip 35c. Bracket 36 may be afiixed to studs 12 and 13 in any suitable vfashion. It will also be clear to those skilled in the art that the frame may be afiixed to a wall either before application of a covering such as Sheetrock as illustrated in FIGURE 2 or after application of the covering such as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

And it will of course to apparent to the skilled tradesman that the wall closure unit of this invention may be applied to other planar surfaces than walls, such as, for example, ceilings and floors. 1

Having described the invention in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be under:

stood that further modifications may now suggest them-,

selves to those skilled in the art and it is intended, to cover such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What isclaimed is: v 1. A wall closure unit for attachment to a wall structure to permit access through an opening in the wall com-: prising:

a panel having a configuration for covering said open-- first elongated bracket means attached to the posterior surface of said panel and extending therefrom substantially along the length of a dimension of said panel, said first bracket means having an elongated convex bend portion intermediate said bracket along the length thereof, and

.4 second bracket means adapted to be rigidly attached to said wall structure and provided with intermediate elongated protruding surfaces having a configuration generally corresponding to said bend por' tion and adapted to engage said bend portion behind the ridge thereof for retaining said panel across the opening in said Wall. 2. The wall closure unit of claim 1 wherein said bend portion is directed outwardly toward the edge of said panel.

3. The wall closure unit of claim 2 wherein said protruding surfaces are directed inwardly toward the opening in the wall and abut with correspondingly shaped surfaces of said bend portion for retaining said panel.

4, The wall closure unit of claim 2 wherein said protruding surfaces substantially register with said bend portion when said panel is placed over the opening in the wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,000,094 8/1911 Klemm 52-498 X 1,630,906 5/1927 Ricken 49465 2,762,389 9/1956 Adam 52-22O 3,286,412 11/1966 Greig et a1. 49465 X J. KARL BELL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 52220, 476, 498

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3,491 ,486 January 27, 197C Juanita W. Caruth It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 57, after "15", "be" should read by Column 4, line 24, "2,762,389" should read 2,762,398

Signed and sealed this 17th day of November 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, J:

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patent 

